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Is diabetic retinopathy related to subclinical cardiovascular disease?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kawasaki, R; Cheung, N; Islam, FMA; Klein, R; Klein, BEK; Cotch, MF; Sharrett, AR; O'Leary, D; Wong, TY; Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Published in: Ophthalmology
May 2011

OBJECTIVE: Persons with diabetic retinopathy (DR) have an increased risk of clinical cardiovascular events. This study aimed to determine whether DR is associated with a range of measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in persons without clinical CVD. DESIGN: Population-based, cross-sectional epidemiologic study. PARTICIPANTS: Nine hundred twenty-seven persons with diabetes without clinical CVD in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. METHODS: Diabetic retinopathy was ascertained from retinal photographs according to modification of the Airlie House Classification system. Vision-threatening DR (VTDR) was defined as severe nonproliferative DR, proliferative DR, or clinically significant macular edema. Subclinical CVD measures were assessed and defined as follows: high coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, defined as CAC score of 400 or more; low ankle-brachial index (ABI), defined as ABI of less than 0.9; high ABI, defined as ABI of 1.4 or more; high carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), defined as highest 25% of IMT; and carotid stenosis, defined as more than 25% stenosis or presence of carotid plaque. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations between DR and subclinical CVD measures. RESULTS: The prevalence of DR and VTDR in this sample was 30.0% and 7.2%, respectively, and VTDR was associated with a high CAC score (odds ratio [OR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-4.73), low ABI (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.08-5.99), and high ABI (OR, 12.6; 95% CI, 1.14-140.6) after adjusting for risk factors including hemoglobin A1c level and duration of diabetes. The association between VTDR and high CAC score remained significant after further adjustment for hypoglycemic, antihypertensive, and cholesterol-lowering medications. Diabetic retinopathy was not significantly associated with measures of carotid artery disease. CONCLUSIONS: In persons with diabetes without a history of clinical CVD, the presence of advanced-stage DR is associated with subclinical coronary artery disease. These findings emphasize the need to be careful about the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for the treatment of DR.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ophthalmology

DOI

EISSN

1549-4713

Publication Date

May 2011

Volume

118

Issue

5

Start / End Page

860 / 865

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Risk Factors
  • Retinal Neovascularization
  • Prevalence
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Macular Edema
  • Humans
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Kawasaki, R., Cheung, N., Islam, F. M. A., Klein, R., Klein, B. E. K., Cotch, M. F., … Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. (2011). Is diabetic retinopathy related to subclinical cardiovascular disease? Ophthalmology, 118(5), 860–865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2010.08.040
Kawasaki, Ryo, Ning Cheung, FM Amirul Islam, Ronald Klein, Barbara E. K. Klein, Mary Frances Cotch, A Richey Sharrett, Daniel O’Leary, Tien Y. Wong, and Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. “Is diabetic retinopathy related to subclinical cardiovascular disease?Ophthalmology 118, no. 5 (May 2011): 860–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2010.08.040.
Kawasaki R, Cheung N, Islam FMA, Klein R, Klein BEK, Cotch MF, et al. Is diabetic retinopathy related to subclinical cardiovascular disease? Ophthalmology. 2011 May;118(5):860–5.
Kawasaki, Ryo, et al. “Is diabetic retinopathy related to subclinical cardiovascular disease?Ophthalmology, vol. 118, no. 5, May 2011, pp. 860–65. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2010.08.040.
Kawasaki R, Cheung N, Islam FMA, Klein R, Klein BEK, Cotch MF, Sharrett AR, O’Leary D, Wong TY, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Is diabetic retinopathy related to subclinical cardiovascular disease? Ophthalmology. 2011 May;118(5):860–865.
Journal cover image

Published In

Ophthalmology

DOI

EISSN

1549-4713

Publication Date

May 2011

Volume

118

Issue

5

Start / End Page

860 / 865

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Risk Factors
  • Retinal Neovascularization
  • Prevalence
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Macular Edema
  • Humans